The Saturday Evening Post articles from May 2003

The Saturday Evening Post archives from May 2003

The spin on Bill O'Reilly. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Your Jan./Feb. 2003 issue, as usual, was excellent... but I have one big complaint. The article on Bill O'Reilly, the Spin Stopper, was much too short! He is so unique and needed for our times that I would have enjoyed reading on and on and...

AEDs, CPR, and EMS ASAP! (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... This letter is to thank you for the excellent articles on CPR and AEDs. They are providing lifesaving information to thousands of your readers. As a result, many will take the training courses offered by the American Red Cross and American...

Battling bipolar disease. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... I read with much interest and empathy your excellent article about Lizzie Simon and her experience with bipolar illness. I've been struggling with this malady for over 30 years now, and it's been a horrendous experience, to say the least....

Presidential wives. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Your Ted Kreiter, for the second time in as many issues, has written another interesting, informative, and entertaining article: "First Ladies: In Their Own Words." Abigail Adams and Eleanor Roosevelt are two of my favorite historical figures,...

From groaning to laughter. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... I am writing about the article in the March/April 2003 Post by Maynard Good Stoddard, "Home Groan." I took my copy to the office, and while reading this article, I had hysterics and had to keep closing the magazine. My laughter was...

Pole walking. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... I read your article in the March/ April 2003 magazine about pole walking, and I'm interested in learning more about it. At our church on an inside track, I have walked as much as seven miles at a time. I have osteoporosis and underwent...

Stolen hearts fiction. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... First of all, I'd like to say I really enjoy the Post. It is filled with so much information and entertainment. I have been reading the excerpts from "Stolen Hearts" by Doug and Joan Zipes. I have looked for the book at Barnes & Noble,...

Malpractice suits. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Doctor Leonard's article ("Volunteering To Be Sued," March/April '03) on the deplorable state of the tort system in this country illustrates a classic case of "biting the hand that feeds you." Patients run to the doctor with their medical...

Macular degeneration. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... I love the Post--especially all the medical articles! I enjoyed reading the story about macular degeneration by Evelyn Echols because she is so positive and won't let her loss of vision slow her down. I noticed all the advertisements about...

Being "patient". (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... I enjoyed the presentation of the "Patient Patient" in the March/April 2003 issue. We do, however, request several simple corrections. The promising photographer's correct name is John Christopher Mack. The piece was inspired by a photo essay...

Cholesterol and cancer? (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Re: "Pancreatic Cancer--Reducing the Risk," Jan./Feb. '03 issue. I found the article very interesting, but also read in a magazine a few years ago that there is a possibility that pancreatic cancer could be caused by an extremely low...

New use for apron hoops. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... In your magazine was an ad for the aprons with the hoop rings. Just thought you might like a story about those aprons and rings. Many years ago, I purchased a couple of aprons from a local store (I think it was a dime-store type) that had...

"A true `Point of Light'" is what former President George Bush, Sr., called her. (Post People).
May 1, 2003... "A true `Point of Light'" is what former President George Bush, Sr., called her. The Denver Rocky Mountain News has referred to her as "the closest thing to perpetual motion that most of us will ever see." But Ambassador Holland H. Coors...

He played a fictional Superman in the movies, but since being paralyzed in a riding accident in 1995. (Post People).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... He played a fictional Superman in the movies, but since being paralyzed in a riding accident in 1995, Christopher Reeve has shown what a real superman is like. A vociferous advocate for stem cell research as the best hope in finding a cure...

Landrum Bolling is a Quaker and former president of Earlham College who presently works at the Center for International Policy in Washington, D.C. (Post People).(Brief Article)(Interview)
May 1, 2003... Landrum Bolling is a Quaker and former president of Earlham College who presently works at the Center for International Policy in Washington, D.C. Over the years he has filled numerous assignments in the Middle East for the White House and the...

Tips for vibrant health and beauty at every age. (Look Good, Feel Good).
May 1, 2003... Focus on Eye Health Researchers say a dietary nutrient called zeaxanthin plays a key role in protecting your vision. Studies conducted at Harvard Medical School and the Schepens Eye Research Institute show that the antioxidant protects the...

Down at the doctor's.
May 1, 2003... "I've already had six boo-boos, nine owies, and one scraped knee." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "You want a second opinion? OK--you should get rid of those polka-dot shorts!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Apparently, you have hangnail,...

Good-by, Grandma: it was a very sad occasion--for everyone but Grandma.
May 1, 2003... She was a woman with a broom or a dustpan or a washrag or a mixing spoon in her hand. You saw her cutting piecrust in the morning, humming to it; or you saw her setting out the baked pies at noon or taking them in, cool, at dusk. She rang...

Petagree puns.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... "What a waste of lives." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "So he's not self-conscious."" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "When she stops scratching your ears, that doesn't mean she's stopped loving you. It just means her hand is tired." ...

Saving your skin: despite public-health campaigns, skin cancer is on the rise in the U.S., with more than one million cases diagnosed each year. A noted dermatologist gives advice on how best to avoid harmful exposure to the sun.(Interview)
May 1, 2003... an interview with William Hanke, M.D. As summer rolls around, Americans head to the beaches, parks, and recreation areas to soak up the great outdoors. Whether on the tennis court, in the garden, or at the beach, take steps to protect your...

What Old gray mare? (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... An attractive young woman once asked a leading New York dermatologist what to do for her prematurely graying hair. "Admire it!" he advised.

For the birds. (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Billy wrote a school essay on birds. "You should be kind to all birds," he wrote, "because the dove brings peace, the robin brings spring, and the stork brings tax exemptions."

Past imperfect. (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... At a party a middle-aged man told his friend that a pretty young coed showed interest in him. "Wow! That's great!" the friend said. "But why the long face?" The middle-aged man replied glumly, "I found out she was an ancient-history...

You're out! (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Marriage usually strikes out when spouses start keeping score on each other's faults.

Just winging it. (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... I was riding with my husband of 20 years one summer on a busy four-lane highway near our home. I try to curb my tendency to be a backseat driver but have been known to give a word or two of advice on occasion. On this particular afternoon,...

Cutting remarks. (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The teacher was talking: "Always remember, class, that a job well done need never be done again." Came a small, tired voice from the back of the room: "What about cutting the grass?"

Ships passing. (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Always remember, amateurs built Noah's Ark, but professionals were responsible for the Titanic.

Just plain vain. (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... I seldom take a good picture, And it makes me mad as can be. The rare times I do are just as bad; No one thinks it is me.

It's not what you think. (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... She took her husband, bent over at the waist and in pain, To the office of Dr. Fox. The nurse sympathized, "Arthritis with complications?" "No. `Do it yourself,' with cement blocks."

Rising to the occasion. (Post Scripts).(flying anecdote)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... We've come a long way in aviation. Years ago, passengers accepted flying as being a risk. Today they accept it as being a frisk.

Found in our e-mail. (Post Scripts).
May 1, 2003... They have finally found a diagnosis for my condition. Hooray! I have recently been diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D.: Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it goes: I decide to wash the car; I start toward the garage and notice the...

Are you experienced? (Post Scripts).(employees)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Many employees are like a kernel of popcorn. You don't know how they'll turn out unless you turn the heat on.

Honey, I'm (still) home! (Post Scripts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... A big problem in many families is that the less-than-motivated husbands tend to remain on "wife support."

How great to see you! You look marvelous! Even if you haven't changed a bit yourself, attending your high-school reunion after a certain number of years can be hazardous to your self-image.
May 1, 2003... I'm depressed. I just got back from the first high-school reunion I ever attended. I refuse to say which one. Not which high school--which year. I don't want anyone to know. I won't even admit it to myself. What I will tell you is that...

A key observation about your mortality: the biggest no-no would be to die suddenly at home, in front of your spouse, of something preventable--thus adding guilt to your spouse's grief. (Speaking Out).
May 1, 2003... A famous magazine cartoon once showed a harried executive at his desk with an appointment book in one hand and his phone in the other. The caption read, "How about never; does never work for you?" This is how most people treat thoughts of their...

Choose your lifesaver: consumer's guide to AEDS.
May 1, 2003... Equip your home and neighborhood with an AED in case of sudden cardiac arrest. Because 80 percent of all sudden cardiac arrests occur in the home, AEDs should become as common as fire extinguishers in case of a cardiac emergency. The Post...

An internal defibrillator to prevent cardiac arrest: luckily, this teenager's sudden cardiac arrest led to the discovery of her heart arrhythmia that required an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to keep her safe.
May 1, 2003... Last November, 17-year-old varsity basketball player Jessica Neace joined teammates at center court against a rival in Michigan City, Indiana. After turning to her coach for final instructions, she assumed the ready position, then without...

Neighborhood heart quiz.
May 1, 2003... Are you heart smart? Do you know more about your car's motor than your own internal pump? Americans spend money on airbags, fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors. With more than 400,000 sudden cardiac deaths occurring in the United States...

Neighborhood heart watch poster girl Linda Isner: Linda's loss is the nation's loss. If you would like to read the tribute to her brilliant husband--cardiologist and gene researcher Jeffrey Isner--that appeared in the Jan./Feb. 2002 issue of the Post, visit our Web site at www.satevepost.org and click on Neighborhood Heart Watch--an initiative that might have saved him.
May 1, 2003... We waited almost a year and a half after her husband's sudden cardiac arrest to ask Linda Isner if she would be our Poster Girl to raise awareness for the Neighborhood Heart Watch. The goal of NHW is a daunting one. Conceived by renowned...

A call to arms! The Saturday Evening Post and its editor strive to bring together innovative ideas and the people behind them. (Open Forum).
May 1, 2003... Why do sudden cardiac arrests happen in the morning? And what is so different about 4:00 a.m. that makes it the "witching hour" for hearts to flutter, race, break their sinus rhythm, and go into ventricular tachycardia (very rapid heartbeat),...

Post artists go to sea: "the sweetest way to me is a ship's upon the sea," wrote Rudyard Kipling. And those who aren't inclined to hang over the rail with seasickness will likely agree. (The American Illustrators Hall of Fame).
May 1, 2003... "I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky," John Masefield wrote, and our Post illustrators have had the same urge, except for a different reason--they were looking, for good ideas for cover paintings. There were, for...

First kids: a new book recounts the eventful lives of presidential children from Abigail "Nabby" Adams to George W. Bush.(Book Review)
May 1, 2003... All The Presidents' Children by Doug Wead 456 pages, Atria Books, $26.00 On June 19, 1773, at about 4:00 in the afternoon, George Washington's only stepdaughter, Patsy, age 17, rose from the dinner table in good spirits. Two minutes later...

Every kid deserves to draw: in the second part of a two-part interview, artist Thomas Kinkade talks about the role art has played in determining our country's values and its vital importance in our educational system. (Thomas Kinkade's American Dream).(Interview)
May 1, 2003... Artist Thomas Kinkade is a left-handed painter--as were Hans Holbein, Raphael, Picasso, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci, to name a few of the well-known lefties from art history. But when it comes to defining Kinkade's place in the art...

Can you name this picture?
May 1, 2003... ... contest: The Saturday Evening Post will award $100 to the author of the winning limerick for this picture. Your limerick must contain exactly five lines. Send your entry on a postcard. Entries will not be returned. Enter as many times...

Where do you think you are?
May 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] East or West, North or South, each of the distinctive areas above appears on the map of a single city, state, or province. In terms of routes, state parks, mountains, and memorials, there is, as the saying goes, "no...

The perfect squelch.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The doctor was one of those positive, outspoken men who are sure of everything in life. He was lecturing a group of young student nurses on the subject of microorganisms, and the students' hesitant, doubting expressions annoyed him. "Now...

You be the judge.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Jack took Mary for a ride one Sunday afternoon. Not having his mind on his driving, he collided with another car. Knowing that he was covered by insurance, Mary sued Jack for the injuries she suffered, but she did not let her bodily hurts...

Botox for furrowed brow. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: My eyelids come down too far over my eyes. Is there some surgery that will help my eyelids stay open better? Is this best done by a general surgeon, an eye surgeon, or a plastic surgeon? Is it necessary to have general...

Niacin promotes heart health. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: What is your opinion about taking niacin to help lower cholesterol? I am concerned about the possible side effects of statin drugs. Niacin therapy is cheaper, too. Debbie Long Atlanta, Georgia We have...

Familial hypercholesterolemia. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... People with a genetic predisposition to extremely high cholesterol may be unable to lower their cholesterol levels with diet, exercise, and medicines. An emerging technology offers an alternative to families with familial hypercholesterolemia,...

More on prescription drugs and hair loss. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I am 66 years old and have been experiencing rapid hair loss the past two years. I take Coumadin, Lopressor, Paxil, Norvasc, and Cozaar. Emil Paselor Long Island, New York The PDR Family Guide to Prescription...

Use it or lose it. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Could you explain this paradox: We're told that you should lower your heart rate or you wear out your heart having it beat 80 beats per minute. Yet, we're also told to reach our targeted heart rate in workouts, and then...

Bipolar disease and pregnancy. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: After severe bouts of depression and mania, I was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder at age 27 and was put on lithium. Then I fell in love and married at age 30. When I became pregnant, I was concerned about the adverse...

Hormone replacement therapy. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I'm a 49-year-old female in menopause and have taken 0.625 mg daily of Premarin for just one year. I had so many severe symptoms a year ago, and the HRT has helped me tremendously. However, my mother had a radical...

Suggestions to relieve swallowing problem. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: In your Jan./Feb. 2003 Post, a Mrs. John E. Grevish asked for help about a swallowing problem. My experience with weak swallowing muscles was a magnesium deficiency. Might this solve her husband's problem, even though the...

Reader remedies for mouth sores. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I am responding to De Etta Myers' letter in the March/April 2003 issue. I had a similar problem with mouth sores in '98, and in 1999 a Kathleen Mutach wrote, "Bless Vitamin [B.sub.12]!" I finally got a doctor to do a...

Coral calcium worked for her. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I take coral calcium daily. It gives me more energy. I am 74 and healthy, except for leg weakness from lack of exercise. Taking coral calcium has helped me with getting up from being down on my knees. Mrs. Don Lorenz...

Herbs for digestive disease. (Medical Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Dear Dr. SerVaas: This is a follow-up letter to the one I sent in 1999, informing you of my success in using an herbal combination for ulcerative colitis. I remain free of any symptoms but continue a maintenance dosage of four capsules...